Super Fit Fido Club

2010-08-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

Dog Exercise with Super Fit Fido Club Dogs CAN have table scraps!

Below are my Top Five table scraps for dogs:

1. Scrambled eggs

2. Chicken breast

3. Baby carrots

4. Green beans

5. Turkey burger

My dogs eat these scraps off of my table to help round out their diet but just as with human diets you shouldn't add salt or sugar-laden condiments to otherwise healthy foods. If your dog is at a good, healthy weight, feed small amounts of healthy scraps and cut back on the amount of dog food dinner that evening. Again, just like people, its calorie intake and exercise output when living a Healthy Canine Lifestyle.

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2010-08-06T07:42:00.000-07:00

Dog Exercise with Super Fit Fido Club
Ten Reasons to Exercise Your Dog Today!

1. It’s good for his heart and yours.

2. He depends on you for health and fitness.

3. Over fat dogs live shorter lives.

4. Preventing your dog from becoming over fat will save you future vet bills for treating expensive conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and arthritis.

5. Dogs need the mental stimulation of experiencing new places and learning new exercises.

6. You and your dog will become closer if you spend time exercising him regularly.

7. Exercising your dog is a great opportunity to refresh basic obedience training.

8. It helps keep his nails short.

9. A well-exercised dog is a tired, ready-to-sleep dog.

10. His slim and trim physique is a reflection of your commitment to living a Healthy Canine Lifestyle.

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2010-07-26T15:40:00.000-07:00

Dog Exercise with Super Fit Fido Club
Big Dogs! Exercising Giant Breeds

As stated in past blogs, not all exercises are right for all dogs. That is why it is important to learn what is the safest and most efficient exercises to get your individual dog in better shape. For those pet lovers who like really big dogs, listen up. The giant breeds have special exercise needs due to bone growth in adolescents and the size (weight) of adults. Because of their size, giant breeds are at a greater risk to injuries including torn anterior cruciate ligaments when attempting certain exercises. Let's take a look at the Mastiff for example.

Although the original function of a Mastiff included hunting and going into battle with their owners, their primary function from the early 1800's on was as a guard dog. Their job was to stay close to home / family and protect them from intruders. They were not used for hunting or retrieving game in the field therefore they are not built to run long distances or climb steep hills. As with the majority of purebred dogs their form follows function, meaning their bone structure was developed through selective breeding to serve a particular purpose.

As a member of the Greenwich Kennel Club I was recently working at their 78th annual dog show and caught up with a longtime breeder of Mastiffs, Pat Flanagan Borracci. I asked Pat if she would help me educate people about the restrictions of exercising such a large dog as the Mastiff. A true ambassador of her breed, she quickly agreed. Our interview about exercising and feeding Mastiffs is below and my favorite quote is " A fat Mastiff is not going to live as long as a healthy Mastiff." Pat was an excellent representative for her breed.

Keep in mind that this information regarding exercise and diet can also be applicable to other giant or large breeds including the Borzoi, Bullmastiff, Great Dane, Dogue De Bordeaux, Great Pyrenees, Bernese Mountain Dog, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Irish Wolfhound, Newfoundland, Neapolitan, St. Bernard, Scottish Deerhound and Tibetan Mastiff.

For more information about Mastiffs visit: Mastiff Club of America or Empire State Mastiff Fanciers.

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2010-07-26T15:37:00.000-07:00

Dog Exercise with Super Fit Fido Club
On the Road Again! Indoor Exercises when Traveling

When traveling with your dog don’t neglect his fitness training. To live a Healthy Canine Lifestyle^TM your dog should be getting 20 to 60 minutes of exercise each day and whether he needs to lose weight or is simply maintaining a healthy fitness level that means consistency, at home and on the road.

There are several physical and mental reasons to continue your dog’s exercise when traveling the primary reason however is stress relief even if he loves to go with you. Excitement and broken routines add stress to a dog’s life. Exercise is a great way to help relax your pet and make him have a sense of routine in new surroundings.

If you have to leave your dog at the hotel for a tour or dinner he will be calmer if you maintain his fitness routine and of course exercise encourages him to fully eliminate before your big night out.

For your early morning exercise you can explore the city together. Be sure to ask your hotel staff about good routes so that you can avoid hazards such as loose dogs, heavy traffic, broken glass, etc. Your dog will love exploring all the new scents and sights in the new location with you. (Don't forget to pack your poop baggies and collapsible water bowl.)

Aside from a 30-minute brisk walk or trot there are other simple exercises you can do inside your hotel room:

Sit Up: Sitting up to beg for 10 reps will help strengthen your dog’s core muscles improving balance and stability. Those core muscles are used for walking, trotting, jumping and many other actions so it is important to strengthen them regularly.

Roll Over: Roll over is another good exercise for core muscles. Do 4 to 5 rolls each direction so you are targeting muscles equally.

Shake Hands: Shaking hands is a nice stretch for the shoulder muscles but be sure to do both front paws 5 to 10 reps for a balanced workout.

Commando: Your dog crawls on his belly for 10 feet following a healthy, low-fat treat. This is good for rear end, shoulders and core muscles.

Tug of War: Playing tug of war with a toy or towel is a great indoor exercise for strengthening the rear end, shoulders and abdomen. Remember not to lift the dog’s head back when playing tug of war. Don't use the hotel towels for dog play. Bring your own toy or towel.

If your dog isn’t currently on a regular fitness program at home then keep the traveling exercise to a brisk walk to release his energy. Learning fitness training is stressful enough on its own and should be done in the dog’s regular surroundings.

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2010-07-26T15:34:00.000-07:00

Dog Exercise with Super Fit Fido Club
Get Your Rear in Gear! Why older dogs are wobbly

It may be due to arthritis or a genetic disease such as hip dysplasia. The majority of relatively healthy dogs however, will become more wobbly as they age because their rear ends have not been regularly strengthened. Approximately 70% of a dog's weight is in the front half of the body therefore the rear legs don't have to hold up as much weight but the rear legs are critical for propulsion and stability.

As the dog ages he will lose muscle mass and the rear is one of the first places muscle will diminish. This is why it is important to start building your dog's rear muscles when they are a young adult and then continue altered exercises into their senior years. By having strength in their rear legs dogs of all ages will have better stability and mobility.

Adult Dogs

Once you have the green light from your vet to start an exercise program consider incorporating slight hill work into your dog's exercise program. By walking, trotting or galloping your dog up low incline hills you are targeting the rear muscles. Be careful to use slight hills with low inclines when starting out and then you can switch to medium inclines as your dog progresses. The hills can easily become part of your Trotting regimen. When you are out trotting your dog and there are hills on your route you can do 10 to 15 reps uphill and then continue on your route.

Senior Dogs

To work the rears of senior dogs you can start by walking or slow trotting the dog 3 times a week for 20 minutes. Once your dog can easily do this then start adding slight hills into the routine. Begin your hill work by doing 3 to 5 reps of walking up and down the hill and again don't use wet grassy hills. Dogs can slip and pull muscles on wet grass and older dogs whose eyesight may be deteriorating can become frightened by the unsure footing.

IMPORTANT TIP #1: You should always WALK DOWN the hill. So you move uphill in a walk, trot or gallop but walk down the hill so as to not put too much pressure on the front end. If you need a refresher of the various gaits (walk, trot, canter, gallop) see my Get Your Trot On! blog entry.

IMPORTANT TIP #2: Refrain from doing your hill work on wet grass. Wet grass is slippery and just like people, dogs can injure themselves by losing their footing.

Other ways to target your dog's rear muscles are low jumps. The jumps don't need to be more than half the dog's height at his withers for fitness training. So if your dog is 20 inches at his shoulders then the jump height can be 10 inches or less. Remember the purpose of fitness training is to improve your dog's overall heart health and strengthen muscles for stability and endurance so he can benefit from living a Healthy Canine Lifestyle.

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2010-07-26T15:30:00.000-07:00

Dog Exercise with Super Fit Fido Club
The Need for Speed! Trotting Speed for Maximum Health Benefit

The previous blog Get Your Trot On contained the video 'Segment 1: What is Trotting?' which revisited the gaits that dogs have and examined the varying speeds. This segment explores the right speed for trotting your dog for fitness training.

If you have an older dog, overweight dog, a giant breed or a young dog whose bones have not stopping growing the fast paced trotting program is not for you. These categories have different needs which will will be discussed in upcoming segments. The fast trotting program is for dogs that are in relatively good weight and would like to increase their overall fitness level. SFFC always recommends that you visit your vet before starting any exercise program.

The speed of trot affects your dog’s workout. A fast trot is when the dog is fully extending his limbs and is close to breaking into a canter. The video below 'Segment 2: Perfect Trotting Pace' details the correct movements for maximum fitness benefit. Once your dog can handle this pace for 30 to 40 minutes, 3 times a week you are on your way to living a Healthy Canine LifestyleTM.

One mistake I see frequently when people and dogs run together is that their pacing is way off. Although I’m all for exercising your dog -- you need to know what speed is correct for your specific dog. Otherwise you could over-tax your pet, cause a serious injury or life-threatening condition. Plus, if your pacing is off the run could quickly become uncomfortable for the dog thereby teaching him that exercise isn’t fun. Which means next time you’ll be dragging the dog out the front door to go for a run.

Before Getting Leashed Up

Age and size of dog matter. You should generally wait until your dog is two years old and his bones have stopped growing before starting a serious trotting program. This is especially true of larger breeds. Giant breeds such as mastiffs and Newfoundlands should never be trotted extensively for exercise but rather swim or take long brisk walks. Extensive trotting can injure their joints.

Brachycephalic breeds or short-muzzled breeds such as bulldogs, Boston terriers, boxers and French bulldogs can have trouble with labored breathing so you need to make sure that you are not pushing the dogs too hard or exercising them in hot temperatures.

Trotting for long periods should be done during the coolest part of the day, early morning and late afternoon.

Dogs should not have eaten at least 2 hours before trotting exercise to avoid health hazards such as bloat.

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2010-07-26T15:18:00.000-07:00

Dog Exercise with Super Fit Fido Club
Get Your Trot On! Trotting Your Dog for Exercise

If you are serious about getting your dog in better physical condition you’ve come to the right place. This two-part video series will explain what a trot is, the benefits of trotting your dog and the importance of knowing your dog’s proper trotting pace for maximum benefit and minimal risk of injury.

Once you have the green light from your vet to begin an exercise program, trotting is a great starting point. It is one of the easiest ways to give your dog an all-over workout. It builds strength, endurance and heart health by utilizing all muscles in the body equally.

This exercise is also know as 'roadworking a dog' or 'running a dog' but since the gait is so important for the maximum fitness benefit, I call it trotting your dog. It's important to know the correct pace of trot for your specific dog to gain the greatest benefit. There are several ways of trotting your dog for exercise. You can jog with them, go on a brisk walk, rollerblade or bicycle. Keep in mind, the best pace for him may not align with the pace you like to run for exercise.

The video "Segment 1: What is Trotting?" reviews the four basic gaits in dog movement and discusses why it is an important part of an overall fitness plan. In the coming video "Segment 2: Perfect Trotting Pace" we will discuss the correct pace for fitness training and safety issues to consider when trotting a dog for exercise.

A common mistake when people and dogs try to run together for exercise, is that the pacing for the dog is incorrect which can over tax the pet, cause a serious injury or life-threatening condition. I’m all for taking your dog on a run with you but you need to know what speed is correct for that specific dog. This will be discussed further in "Segment 2: Perfect Trotting Pace."

Can’t run with your dog?

If you cannot run with your dog you should consider hiring a dog runner or getting a bike with a "springer" to safely give him trotting exercise. Some people also use treadmills to trot their dogs. I prefer trotting my own dogs for the following reasons:

A) The dogs prefer to be with me.

B) Dogs prefer to be running outside vs. indoors on a boring treadmill.

C) I know my dogs better than anyone else and will be able to notice signs of distress immediately.

For those considering getting a dog make sure you have the capability and means to give him the proper exercise so your pet can live a Healthy Canine Lifestyle. He is depending on you.

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2010-07-26T13:55:00.000-07:00

Dog Exercise with Super Fit Fido Club
Starting Your Dog on a Trotting Program

First Steps

Get the green light from your veterinarian to begin an exercise program.

Determine the proper trotting pace that is best to maximize this exercise for your dog while minimizing risk of injury.

Review the risks of extensive trotting of large breeds, brachycephalic breeds and young dogs.

Once that is done it’s time to plan your program. As your dog’s Personal Trainer, it’s your job to have a set schedule, route and motivation plan in place before you begin his regular workouts. You will need these to be efficient with your time and to best suit your dog’s needs.

Set Goals For Your Dog

After your vet visit, you should have an idea of what you are trying to accomplish. You may be trying to loose a few pounds, create a visible waist on your dog or just release that wonderful canine energy.

Tip: No matter what the end goal, you must start slowly and ease your dog into a regular exercise program.

If you do want to track results, do the same thing that people do, get the tape measure and scale out. Mark down the date and your dog’s statistics. Then each week follow up with his latest measurements. The first place you will see weight loss is in the waist, then ribs and even his neck.

Measure: Weight / Waist / Ribs / Neck

Week One: 65 lbs. / 20” / 25” / 12”

Week Two: 63 lbs. / 19.5” / 23” / 11”

Set A Schedule

What days are best for your busy schedule? Pick two days that you can dedicate an hour in the early morning or evening and then add a third day. Keep in mind your dog cannot eat for two hours prior to exercising. Give him breakfast or dinner when you get home from your workout and he has had time to settle down.

You may be only exercising 40 or 45 minutes out of the hour but you will need the extra time to make sure your pet has fully eliminated and to do your post-workout cool down. Be sure to include down days in between for recovery. For example, you start with Tuesday and Thursday mornings and then add Saturday.

Tip: Always keep a down day in between when starting a workout program.

Scout A Route

Plan your route in advance. Take a brisk walk of potential routes without your dog.

Try to accomplish the following:

Make notes about the mileage. Find markers on your way to denote certain distances, ½ mile, 1 mile, 2 miles, etc.
Time yourself so you know how long / far you will need to go before turning back.
Make sure there aren’t potential hazards such as extreme traffic, loose dogs, broken glass on ground or a lack of shade.
Be mindful to select a workout route that will be good for your dog’s feet. Hard surfaces like asphalt and cement will cause wear and flatten their feet. It is best to have a variety of surfaces including gravel pathways, grass, trails and man-made surfaces. (Even though you should only exercise in the early morning be careful to check the heat of asphalt before walking on it. Hot asphalt can burn dogs’ feet.)
Include a variety of gradual inclines not just flat surfaces.
You need to make sure there will be water available on your route. If there aren’t water fountains for your collapsible bowl then you will have to carry water for your dog.

Personalize For Your Dog

Think about your pet’s interests. Is he interested in hunting, playing with toys, retrieving, interactive play with you? These are all things to consider when planning routes. As his fitness trainer it is up to you to customize the workout so your dog will have fun, bond with you and get fit all in a planned time period. You can use toys and games to keep our dog interested in the activity.

Did Someone Say Treats?

As this is an exercise program to get your dog fit, treats are only included for a few reasons. When you get your dog moving with you at a good trot and he is behaving and paying attention to you, slip him a small piece of a treat while moving. Don’t stop to give the treat, keep walking while offering the treat. Of course the only treats offered are healthy ones in very small portions such as bits of baby carrot. I only offer these treats at the beginning of the workout so my dog knows that I have them with me. You do not want to feed the dog a lot of treats and make him sick.

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2010-07-26T13:54:00.001-07:00

Dog Exercise with Super Fit Fido Club
Swimming Segment 5 - Your Dog's Fitness Program

As we have seen through the past 4 segments swimming has a lot of benefits for your dog's overall health and fitness. There are responsibilities when including swimming in your dog’s fitness program but it certainly is a good way to switch up your regimen and spend quality time with your pet.

This final segment concludes my interview with Jean Marie Cooper LVT, MVT of Water4Dogs in NYC. The discussion surrounds how to start a swimming regimen for exercise and why it should be included in a fitness program. I’d like to thank Jean Marie Cooper and Jennifer Franchetti for their time and attention and the lovely tour of their facility.

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2010-07-26T13:53:00.001-07:00

Dog Exercise with Super Fit Fido Club
Swimming Segment 4 - Pool vs. Underwater Treadmill

Underwater treadmills have been used in horses for many years as a strengthening mechanism for athletic equines. In the dog world, these expensive pieces of equipment traditionally were reserved for veterinary specialty hospitals or universities with a primary function of aquatic therapy and rehabilitation for animals post surgery or with neurological problems.

Now as more indoor dog exercise facilities open up in the U.S., underwater treadmills are gaining exposure to the pet public at large as an alternative way to exercise your dog.

This segment continues my interview with Jean Marie Cooper LVT, MVT of Water4Dogs in NYC. This discussion surrounds the differences in open pool swimming versus an underwater treadmill when swimming healthy dogs for exercise.

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2010-07-26T13:48:00.000-07:00

Dog Exercise with Super Fit Fido Club
Swimming Segment 3 - After the Swim

Swimming is great exercise for dogs because of the natural resistance of water and the fact that it is so easy on the joints. It isn’t necessarily convenient however. There are several steps dog lovers need to take after the swim.

This segment continues my interview with Jean Marie Cooper LVT, MVT of Water4Dogs in NYC. This discussion covers what steps need to be taken after your dog swims for exercise. We cover the following:

Safely exiting the pool
Rinsing or shampooing coat
Drying coat
Ear care

If you are going to swim your dog regularly you definitely should get a gentle shampoo for his coat. You can even dilute the shampoo but you should make sure to get the chlorine off the coat and skin. I recommend a quick lathering up after each swim to protect the coat from drying out and then falling out.

Ear care is a must! You do not want a chronic ear infection due to swimming, they are can become painful for the dog and expensive for you. Be sure to dry out those ear holes or invest in products to protect the ears from getting irritated.

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2010-07-26T13:46:00.000-07:00

Dog Exercise with Super Fit Fido Club
Swimming Segment 2 - Safety in the Pool

This segment continues my interview with Jean Marie Cooper LVT, MVT of Water4Dogs in NYC. In our discussion about safety when swimming your dog we cover the following topics:

Easy exit from the pool.
Swimming capabilities can vary by breed/conformation.
Proper supervision to make sure dog is safe and doesn’t overexert himself.
Importance of life jacket.

As with everything in your dog’s life he is depending on you to make sure he is in a safe environment.

Below are more safety tips:

Never let a dog swim unattended. Have a fence around pool so dog cannot get in when no one is home.
Be sure to teach your dog where a ramp is in a swimming pool so he can exit.
Make sure the pool cover is tightly secured so the dog cannot slip in underneath and get caught.
Due to currents and unforeseen hazards, life jackets are essential if letting your dog swim in a natural water source.

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2010-07-26T13:42:00.000-07:00

Dog Exercise with Super Fit Fido Club
Swimming Segment 1 - Intro to Swimming

Swimming is a great addition to your dog's fitness program because of the natural resistance that water offers and the fact it is less stressful on the joints.When starting out it is important to know the safest places to swim and how to introduce a dog to water.

This is the first segment in a 5 part interview with Jean Marie Cooper, LVT, LMT the Manager of Water4Dogs in NYC. Water4Dogs is an indoor swimming pool for dogs which offers the ultimate in safety because of the controlled environment and knowledgeable staff. Controlled swimming has been used for rehabilitation and senior care for years but in recent times controlled swimming for exercise has been becoming more popular.

Many people like to take their pets with them on a boat or to the shore. There are many potential hazards that you should be aware of in natural settings like lakes, rivers and the ocean.

Lakes / Rivers: bacteria, parasites, snakes, run off water contaminated with pesticides, undercurrents
Ocean: current, riptide, jellyfish, sharp shells, parasites

Be sure the water you take your dog into is clean and safe. SFFC recommends always using a life jacket so there is no chance of the dog getting out of reach when tired or if he encounters danger.

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2010-07-26T13:32:00.000-07:00

Dog Exercise with Super Fit Fido Club
Getting Your Dog Ready for Fitness Training

Hello dog fitness enthusiasts! After 30+ years of getting dogs into top physical condition it is my pleasure to launch the Super Fit Fido Club. My fitness training classes are starting this spring in NYC but since there are more dog lovers out there who want to make sure their pets live longer, healthier lives the SFFC Blog has begun. The purpose is to educate people about the importance of regular exercise and how to exercise your pet properly. Both of these will lead to my goal of helping dog’s living longer, healthier lives.

As more indoor pet facilities pop up with dog exercise equipment in them, it is important to remember that you don’t have to live near a facility or buy expensive equipment to get your dog in top physical condition. This SFFC Blog will offer tips that anyone can use whether at the park, in your backyard or indoors. The lifestyle choices we make for our dogs, affect our dogs. By choosing to give your dog regular exercise you are already on your way to living a Healthy Canine Lifestyle.^TM After making this decision, it’s time to get your dog ready.

Getting Your Dog Ready For Fitness Training

Be sure to first visit your veterinarian to make sure your dog is healthy enough to begin a regular fitness training program. It is important to speak with your vet about the ideal weight and body shape for your dog so you can work towards that goal.

Things your vet will consider when examining your pet: ·

Heart murmur
Collapsing Trachea·
Luxating patellas
Palpable hip and elbow abnormalities
Clinical evidence of arthritis
Nail length

Other considerations before beginning an exercise program include:

Short Nails Make Healthy Toes: This is a must for a dog about to begin an exercise program. If your dog’s toenails are too long, exercising could injure feet. Be sure to have your dog's nails clipped before beginning and then regular exercise will help keep them short.

Brush Up On Your Obedience: It’s always good to brush up on basic commands such as sit, stay, wait, come, down, heel, etc. These commands can be integrated into your workout routine once your dog has adjusted to going out with you on a regular basis.

Gear Up: For a controlled workout your dog should be no more than three feet away from you and you should have complete control of his head. I recommend a basic buckle collar, snap collar or obedience chain and a 5’ or 6 ‘ leash. Remember this time is for controlled exercise, not free wandering or social time. If your dog is already collar trained, then feel free to use a harness as long as the fit is correct and it doesn’t rub on the dog’s body when trotting.

You will need to carry water and a collapsible bowl (if there aren't any doggie watering holes on your route), poop bags and your cell phone.

For safety, you should make sure your dog has identification such as a collar tag and registered microchip number in case he gets away from you and if exercising before or after the sun is bright be sure to wear reflective materials so drivers can see you and your dog.